Fabric edge decurling and controlling apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed to apparatus for removing edge curl or roll from a continuously advancing fabric web by contacting the respective curled edge portions with oppositely moving flight portions of a single continuously running belt. The apparatus also includes a device for centering the web after its edges have been uncurled and a multiple scroll roll unit, a feed roll and a finger type edge flattener for shaping the web into a fully flattened squared condition as an incident to its introduction into a subsequent processing unit. The multiple scroll roll unit also may be adjusted to remove any skew in the web as it advances therethrough.

[ June 26, 1973 FABRIC EDGE DECURLING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: 1 Frank Cata llo, Elmont, N .Y.

[73] Assignee: Fab-Con Machinery Development Corporation, Patterson, NJ.

[22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,517

' [52] U.S. Cl. 26/54, 26/DIG. 1, 26/51.3, 26/57 E [51] Int. Cl. D06c 3/00 [58] Field of Search.....; 26/D1G. 1, 51.3, 26/54, 57 E; 38/143 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,186,504 6/1916 Wagner 26/DIG. 1 UX 1,326,057 12/1919 Huber v 26/51.3 1,408,856 3/1922 Blum 26/D1G. 1 UX 2,278,985 4/1972 Gessner 26/DIG. 1 UX 2,467,281 4/1949 Walter et a1. 26/D1G. l UX 2,650,413 9/1953 Pope et al..' 26/DIG. 1 UX 3,414,991 12/1968 Oelkers et a1 26/DlG. 1 UX 3,533,144 10/1970 Jaffe et a1. 26/54 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 523,673 4/1931 Germany 26/DlG. 1 4,514,156 12/1965 .lapan 26/$l.3

Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney-F. J. Pisarra [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention is directed to apparatus for removing edge curl or roll from a continuously advancing fabric web by contacting the respective curled edge portions with oppositely moving flight portions of a single continuously running belt. The apparatus also includes a device for centering the web after its edges have been uncurled and a multiple scroll roll unit, a feed roll and a finger type edge flattener for shaping the web into a fully flattened squared condition as an incident to its introduction into a subsequent processing unit. The multiple scroll roll unit also may be adjusted to remove any skew in the web as it advances therethrough.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAI'ENIEU JUN 2 6 I975 SHEEI 1N2 INVENTOR.

FRANK CATALLO Attorney FIG. 3

PATENTEU M25 3. 740. 805

' SIEU 2 N 2 INVENTOR.

FRANK CATALLO Attorney FABRIC EDGE DECURLING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS THE INVENTION A This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in apparatus for properly orienting and arranging a continuously advancing web of fabric as an incident to its introduction into a processing unit, such as a tenter, and particularly seeks to provide novel means for flattening the edge curls or rolls of opened tubular or circular knit fabrics, particularly single knit fabrics, and positively maintaining such fabrics in the physical or, geometric state required for their proper introduction into such a processing unit.

Currently, knit fabrics ingeneral and single knit fabrics in particular, have become increasingly popular, thus creating a demand for production and processing equipment at the textile mill level that is capable of supplying, to the finishers or converters, opened, flat tubular knit fabrics that do not require the heretofore needed step of slitting off and discarding the curled or rolled edges in order to obtain a resultant flat fabric web that can be easily and readily introduced into tenters or other units for subsequent processing prior to cutting in a convertors plant or shop as an incident to the manufacture of garments or other finished goods.

The problem of edge curl or roll is much more acute in the case of circular single knit fabrics than in double knit fabrics due to the nature of the stitch formations which produce forces that cause the fabrics to roll toward the inside of the' original knit tube when slit longitudinally. This problem becomes intensified whenever synthetic yarns, such as those of nylon or polyester, are used. Such yarns are produced relatively straight and have a memory that tends to restore them to straightness until heat-set after knitting, thus adding to the forces that create curl and roll in the longitudinally slit and opened tubes. Longitudinally applied tension further adds to such forces.

Although double knit fabrics do not have the same degree of curl and roll problems as do single knit fabrics, the problem still exists.

It is believed to be generally understood that, with opened or longitudinally slit tubular knit fabrics as well as-woven fabrics, when an edge turns over itself up to about 2 inches it is referred to as a curl and any turnover in excess of 2 inches is referred to as a roll, frequently because a roll may be just that, namely, one or more full coils formed about a longitudinal axis.

The apparatus of this invention is capable of removing; all such curls or rolls in an opened or slit tubular knit fabric web and maintaining the fabric web in a controllably flat condition as a incident to its introduction into a subsequent processing unit.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide novel apparatus that is capable of removing edge curls or edge rolls from a continuously advancingweb of fabric and then maintaining the fabric web in fully flattened, properly oriented, condition until it is introduced into the receiving portion of a subsequent processing. unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated that includes an edge decurling or unrolling unit having a single power driven endless belt positioned substantially coplanarly with and transversely of an advancing web of fabric oriented with its curled or rolledv edge portions facing the belt with one end portion of one flight of the belt being exposed to contact one edge portion of the advancing fabric web and the opposite end portion of the other flight of the belt being exposed to contact the opposite edge portion of the advancing web, said belt being driven in a direction such that the fabric edgecontacting flight portions thereof are moving in directions towards the respective edges of said fabric web.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated that includes means to prevent the non-edge-contacting portion of each belt flight from contacting the remaining portion of said advancing fabric web.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated that includes guide rods of idler rolls ahead of and behind said belt whereby to maintain said advancing fabric web in contact with the exposed portions of the flights of the belt.

Another object of this invention is to provide appara tus of the character stated that includes means for automatically centering the flattened fabric web after it leaves said edge decurling or unrolling unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated in which said web centering means includes an high-friction-surfaced horizontal idler roll mounted in contact with the adjacent surface of the advancing flattened web and normally transverse thereto, said idler roll being supported by a central vertical pivot positioned in alignment with the desired median longitudinal axis of advance of the web so that whenever the web becomes or tends to become offcenter in its advance, the idler roll will pivot about its vertical support and force the web back into its desired longitudinal alignment.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated that includes a multiple scroll roll unit following said web centering means for laterally stretching said fabric web as it advances and also includes a set of rotary opposed finger edge decurlers positioned after the scroll roll unit for finally removing or preventing edge curl of the advancing web immediately prior to its introduction into the subsequent processing unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated in which at least one roll of said scroll roll unit is provided with means to pivotally vary its axis out of the plane containing the axes of all such scroll rolls whereby to force correction to any skewing (diagonal distortion) of the advancing fabric web by causing the skewed portion of the web to follow a longer path and thus be retarded relative to'the unskewed edge thereof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated that is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects, the nature of which will become apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like parts in the several views:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a fabric edge decurling and controlling apparatus construction in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the driven belt decurler for the fabric edges;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, somewhat schematic, elevation of the roll device for automatically centering the decurled fabric web;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic top plan view showing the multiple scroll roll, the feed rolls and the rotary finger uncurling unit;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of the multiple scroll roll unit taken'along line 66 of FIG. 5 and shows the angular displacement of the intermediate scroll roll to correct a skewed condition of the advancing fabric web;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail elevation of the handwheel control for adjusting the angular displacement of the intermediate scroll roll; and

FIG. 8 is a detail taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and shows an indicator scale and pointer for visually determining the exact angular adjustment of the associated scroll roll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention, as illustrated, is embodied in apparatus for decurling the edges of a continuously advancing fabric web and maintaining the web in a properly centered flatted condition as an incident to its introduction into a tenter frame or other type of equipment for subsequent processing operations. Although the apparatus of this invention may be used to uncurl or unroll the edges of many types of fabric webs, it is particularly effective for the removal of edge curl or edge roll from single knit fabrics.

In accordance with this invention a web 5 of single knit fabric having inwardly curled or rolled edges 6,6 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is supplied from the usual basket or truck (not shown) and is first lead over an upper guide roll 7, thence downwardly through a belt edge decurling unit generally indicated 8, under a guide roll 9, horizontally over a centering unit generally indicated at 10, under a guide roll 11, thence upwardly and through a multiple scroll roll unit generally indicated 12, over a feed roll 13, through a finger decurling unit generally indicated 14, past edge sensors 15, and into the nip of pinning wheels 16, 16 or other webengaging devices of a subsequent processing unit.

The edge decurling unit 8 (see FIG. 2) is disposed transversely of the path of travel of the web 5 and includes a Vee or other type of belt 17, having an upper flight l8 and a lower flight 19, mounted on pulleys 20, 20 rotatably supported on frame members 21, 21. The belt is driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, from a motor 22, sprockets 23, 23 and sprocket chain 24 and is oriented so that the upper and lower flights 18 and 19 are substantially coplanar with the inner or edgecurled face'of the advancing web 5. The left end portion of the upper flight 18 passes through a tube 25 affixed to the left frame member 21, thus leaving the right end portion exposed for sliding contact with the right curled edge 6 of the web. Similarly, the right end portion of the lower flight 19 passes through a tube 26 affixed to the right frame member 21, thus leaving the left end portion exposed for sliding contact with the left curled edge 6 of the web. Upper and lower transverse guide rods or idler rolls 27, 27,

carried by the frame members 21,21, engage the outer face of the web 5 as it advances in order to maintain the curled edges of the inner face thereof in operative contact with the exposed portions of the belt flights 18 and 19. In this manner a single belt is effective to decurl both edges of an advancing fabric web since the exposed portion of the upper flight l8 acts in a left to right direction to decurl the right edge of the web and the exposed portion of the lower flight 19 acts in a right to left direction to decurl the left edge of the web.

The width of the decurling unit 8 is sufficient and the exposed portions of the belt flights l8 and 19 are sufficiently long to permit complete decurling of the web edges even though the web may not be perfectly centered. However, after leaving the decurling unit the web should be properly centered prior to passage through the scroll roll unit 12 and the finger decurling unit 14.

To this end, the centering device 10 is located beneath the web intermediate the guide rolls 9 and 11 an includes a rough surface horizontal idler roll 28 journalled in a bracket 29 that is pivotally mounted at its center on a vertical pedestal stud or shaft 30. The roll 28 has a length somewhat longer than the width of the decurled fabric web and normally assumes an orientation at a right angle to the path of travel of the web when the web is properly centered. However, if the web is running off center to the right, for example as indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 4, the roll 28 will swivel about the axis of the pedestal stud 30 to the dot-dash line position shown in that figure and force the web back to its properly centered alignment. As this recentering becomes effected, the roll 28 will gradually return to and reach its normal transverse orientation. Obviously, web off-centering to the left will cause the roll 28 to swivel in the opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 4 to effect recentering of the web. Limit stops (not shown) may be provided if desired to prevent the roll 28 from swiveling more than a predetermined number of degrees in either direction about the axis of the pedestal stud 30.

Although the belt unit 8 effectively uncurls or unrolls the edges of the web 5, the whole width of the web must be subjected to further flattening treatment before it is in proper condition for introduction into a subsequent processing unit. Accordingly, the web is now passed through the multiple scroll unit 12 which further flattens the web by applying lateral tension thereto as it advances. The unit 12 comprises three equal diameter scroll rolls of standard externally threaded or grooved construction driven in the same direction (counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1) by a common drive and are threaded or grooved in the same sense (i.e. righthanded). These scroll rolls should be relatively closely spaced in order to properly function on knit fabrics, particularly on single knit fabrics.

It frequently happens that knit fabrics, particularly single knit fabrics, will become skewed as they are advanced and it has been discovered in accordance with this invention that such a condition can be best corrected within the scroll roll unit 12 by so mounting the intermediate scroll roll 32 in such a manner that one end may be raised or lowered, thus pivoting its axis in a vertical plane or in a plane radial or normal to that containing the axes of all three scroll rolls, in order to cause the adjacent edge portion of the web to travel a greater or lesser distance than that of the opposite web edge portion and thereby eliminate the skew.

To this end, the driven end of the scroll roll 32 may be mounted in a spherical bearing and its free or opposite end splined into a corresponding spherical bearing mounted in a vertically adjustable block 33 (see FIG. 7) threadably engaged on an adjusting screw 34 rotatably carried by bearing lugs 35, 35 and provided at its upperend with a hand wheel 36 affixed thereto. An index scale 37 is affixed to an adjacent frame portion and a pointer 38 carried by the bearing block 33 is used to visually indicate the degree of adjustment made to the scroll roll 32 as the result of moving the block 33.

After leaving the multiple scroll roll unit 12 the web 5 passes over the feed roll 13, which is driven in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1, and thence through the finger uncurling unit 14 which comprises two sets, of three each, of opposed externally threaded or grooved finger spindles 39 which may be driven in either direction as desired, although shown as rotating in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1. The finger unit 14 is effective to impart a final decurling action to the edges of the web 5 before it enters a subsequent processing unit. The physical characteristics of the web 5 determine the manner in which the web is threaded through the finger unit 14, although for most purposes it is generally satisfactory to thread it over, under and over the successive pairs of opposed spindles 39.

From the finger unit 14 the web 5 passes the sensing heads 15 (which signal rail adjustment for pinning or required web-receiving adjustment at the subsequent processing unit) and into engagement with the pinning wheels 16 or other elements at the entry to the subsequent processing unit.

The effectiveness of the final flattening and squaring of the web is best attained in processing single knit fabrics when the distance of the scroll roll unit 12 from the idler roll 11 is at least one-half the fabric width; when the scroll rolls 31 and 32 are relatively close together; and when the scroll roll unit 12, the feed roll 13, finger unit 14 and sensing unit 15 are all in close coupled relationship. The three scroll rolls of the unit 12 should also rotate in the same direction with the web traveling over two and under one so that the first and last scroll rolls are turning against the travel of the web and are in contact with the inside of the web.

it is, of course, to be understood that variations in arrangements and proportions of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. ln apparatus for uncurling or unrolling the edges of an inwardly curled continuously advancing web of fabric and thereafter fully flattening and aligning the same for entry into a subsequent processing unit, an endless belt disposed transversely of the path of travel of a fabric web to be curled and located on that side of the web over which the edges thereof are curled or rolled, the flights of said belt being disposed in substantially coplanar relationship with the plane of said web as it advances; first means for preventing a first edge portion of said web from contacting that portion of one flight of said belt adjacent to said first edge portion of said web while permitting the second edge portion of said web to contact an exposed portion of said one flight of said belt; second means for preventing the second edge portion of said web from contacting that portion of the other flight of said belt adjacent to said second edge portion of said web while permitting the said first edge portion of said web to contact an exposed portion of said other flight of said belt; means for driving said belt in a single direction such that the webcontacting portions of the flights thereof each moves in a direction from the central portion of said web toward the adjacent edge thereof; multiple scroll roll means thereafter effective for further flattening said advancing web; and means thereafter effective for applying a final edge decurling operation to said web prior to its entry into a subsequent processing unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including means interposed between said belt and said multiple scroll means for automatically centering said web along its desired axis of travel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said web centering means includes a freely rotating roll in normal transverse contact with one face of the advancing web and centrally pivoted intermediate its ends on a mount aligned with the normal axis of advance of said web whereby to cause said roll to swivel about its pivot as said web moves to either side of its normal path of travel and to force said web to return to its normal path of travel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of said means for preventing contact between edge portions of said web and the corresponding portions of said belt flights comprises frame-affixed tubes encompassing said corresponding portions of said belt flights.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 additionally including means for maintaining the edge portions of said web in contact with the respective exposed portions of said belt flights as said web advances therepast.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including means for maintaining the edge portions of said web in contact with the respective exposed portions of said belt flights as said web advances therepast.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said multiple scroll means includes three close-coupled scroll rolls mounted in normally parallel axial alignment; and said scroll rolls in the same direction whereby to permit the first and third of said scroll rolls to act on the contacting surface of said advancing web counter to its path of travel and to permit the intermediate of said scroll rolls to act on the contacting surface of said web in the direction of its path of travel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said multiple scroll means includes three close-coupled scroll rolls mounted in normally parallel axial alignment; and said scroll rolls being driven in the same direction whereby to permit the first and third of said scroll rolls to act on the contacting surface of said advancing web counter to its path of travel and to permit the intermediate of said scroll rolls to act on the contacting surface of said web in the direction of its path of travel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 additionally including means for adjusting the axis of said intermediate scroll roll out of the plane containing the axes of all of said scroll rolls whereby to eliminate any skew that has occurred in the advancing web.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said final edge decurling means comprises sets of opposed pairs of rotary finger spindles extending inwardly from the edge portions of said web toward the center thereof.

* i i l 

1. In apparatus for uncurling or unrolling the edges of an inwardly curled continuously advancing web of fabric and thereafter fully flattening and aligning the same for entry into a subsequent processing unit, an endless belt disposed transversely of the path of travel of a fabric web to be curled and located on that side of the web over which the edges thereof are curled or rolled, the flights of said belt being disposed in substantially coplanar relationship with the plane of said web as it advances; first means for preventing a first edge portion of said web from contacting that portion of one flight of said belt adjacent to said first edge portion of said web while permitting the second edge portion of said web to contact an exposed portion of said one flight of said belt; second means for preventing the second edge portion of said web from contacting that portion of the other flight of said belt adjacent to said second edge portion of said web while permitting the said first edge portion of said web to contact an exposed portion of said other flight of said belt; means for driving said belt in a single direction such that the web-contacting portions of the flights thereof each moves in a direction from the central portion of said web toward the adjacent edge thereof; multiple scroll roll means thereafter effective for further flattening said advancing web; and means thereafter effective for applying a final edge decurling operation to said web prior to its entry into a subsequent processing unit.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including means interposed between said belt and said multiple scroll means for automatically centering said web along its desired axis of travel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said web centering means includes a freely rotating roll in normal transverse contact with one face of the advancing web and centrally pivoted intermediate its ends on a mount aligned with the normal axis of advance of said web whereby to cause said roll to swivel about its pivot as said web moves to either side of its normal path of travel and to force said web to return to its normal path of travel.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of said means for preventing contact between edge portions of said web and the corresponding portions of said belt flights comprises frame-affixed tubes encompassing said corresponding porTions of said belt flights.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 additionally including means for maintaining the edge portions of said web in contact with the respective exposed portions of said belt flights as said web advances therepast.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including means for maintaining the edge portions of said web in contact with the respective exposed portions of said belt flights as said web advances therepast.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said multiple scroll means includes three close-coupled scroll rolls mounted in normally parallel axial alignment; and said scroll rolls in the same direction whereby to permit the first and third of said scroll rolls to act on the contacting surface of said advancing web counter to its path of travel and to permit the intermediate of said scroll rolls to act on the contacting surface of said web in the direction of its path of travel.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said multiple scroll means includes three close-coupled scroll rolls mounted in normally parallel axial alignment; and said scroll rolls being driven in the same direction whereby to permit the first and third of said scroll rolls to act on the contacting surface of said advancing web counter to its path of travel and to permit the intermediate of said scroll rolls to act on the contacting surface of said web in the direction of its path of travel.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 additionally including means for adjusting the axis of said intermediate scroll roll out of the plane containing the axes of all of said scroll rolls whereby to eliminate any skew that has occurred in the advancing web.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said final edge decurling means comprises sets of opposed pairs of rotary finger spindles extending inwardly from the edge portions of said web toward the center thereof. 